CISD to host financial aid night tonight

Published 4:48 pm, Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Parents and students of Conroe ISD are encouraged to learn more about the college financial aid process at tonight’s event.

Conroe ISD’s fifth annual financial aid night will take place tonight (Jan. 27) at Conroe High School from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for all students in the district.

Kay Roberts, CHS college and career counselor, said now is a perfect time to think about financial aid.

“People have either been able to either work on their taxes or think about their taxes, which is an important facet in the financial aid process,” she said. “The purpose of the event for us is to talk about the financial aid process. People can get instructions online right now, multiple presentations, to find out how to fill out a FAFSA. However, often times these financial aid nights can teach you how to fill out a form, but also the side effects of filling out a form.”

She said many who make a certain level of income might be discouraged from applying at all, thinking they would never get awards. However, she said, many colleges and universities require students to fill out FAFSAs for merit scholarship and university grant participation. Furthermore, FAFSAs aren’t just for Pell Grants, but also federal loans, which are both need and non-need based.

Among the topics will be Pell Grants, language in the FAFSA, how to compare colleges and financial aid opportunities between schools, and what award letters look like.

“There’s not a lot of conversation about that, even more basic than the FAFSA, is why am I doing this to begin with?” Roberts said. “Underclassmen should come; parents of freshmen, 10th and 11th (should come) to make better decisions about their education and also to apply instructive pressure for grades,” she said. “The first real money for a middle-income money is from merit scholarship. Not everyone is going to UT, so how do you shop a non-flagship institution?”

Roberts said attendees should bring something to write with, something to write on, and the rest will be provided.

“The evening is designed to decrease fear,” Roberts said. “You’re trying to figure out how to make informed decisions based on access to funding many people never think is out there.”